The attack was carried out by the Belarusian Cyber-Partisans group. Backing up its claims, the cell published a list on Telegram detailing the website’s administrators, its database and server logs.
Activist Yuliana Shametavets told AP that the action was a response to agency chief Ivan Tertel. Earlier last week,
Tertel had accused the group of planning an attack on the country’s infrastructure, including a nuclear power plant.
Shametavets said: “
The KGB is carrying out the largest political repressions in the history of the country and must answer for it. We work to save the lives of Belarusians, and not to destroy them, like the repressive Belarusian special services do.”
According to Shametavets, the group had beached the KGB’s network “several years ago” and had been attempting to hack its website ever since.
Having downloaded over 8,600 files belonging to KGB operatives, the group then created a chatbot on Telegram allowing people to positively identify KGB employees by uploading their photos.
“We want to show that in the digital world it is impossible to hide information, and the truth about political repressions will surface, and those who carried them out will be punished,” said Shametavets.
Previously, the group’s activity has included attacks on the country’s state media. Famously, in 2022 they were able to hack Belarussian Railways on three separate occasions and paralyze the transport of arms. By seizing control of the traffic control system, they were able to prevent military transits destined for Russian units in Ukraine.
Two weeks ago,
the group also hacked computer systems at the Grodno Azot plant in a bid to pressure the government into releasing political prisoners. Regarded as the largest producer of fertilizer in the country, the plant’s website has been down since April 17.
“We’re telling Belarusian authorities that if they don’t stop political repression, it will get worse,” warned Shametavets. “We will continue in order to inflict maximum damage on the Lukashenka regime.”
